Improved apparatus for generating and carbureting gas



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CLEAVELAND F. DUNDERDALE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 90,644, dated J une l, 1869.

To all whom it 'may concern: y

Beit known that I, GLEAVELAND F. DUN- DERDALE, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Apparatus for Generating Illuminating-Gas; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon. The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of my apparatus.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing an apparatus wherein hydrogen-gas can be generated and carbureted by passing it through any suitable hydrocarbon liquid, so arranged that the diluted acid by or from which the hydrogen is generated and the hydrocarbon liquid are separated and in different. compartments, but under the same gasometer.

Apparatus have been constructed for this purpose; but they have failed to be efficient in mixing the gases and vapors only in combining proportions, and preventing the depositing ofthe vapors of the hydrocarbon in a liquid in the pipes, the reason being that the hydrocarbon liquid was placed in contact and floating on the top of a mixture ofthe acid and water, which, when the hydrogen was being generated by the contact of scraps of metal for that purpose, the reaction of the diluted acid and metal in freeing the hydrogen .froml the water created an excess of heat, which Iaused the hydrocarbon liquid to evaporate too rapidly and carry over into the pipes of the building an excess of the hydrocarbon vapors-more than the hydrogen would combine with. The diluted acid was also found to absorb partof the hydrocarbon liquid iloating on its surface.

` The construction and arrangement of my apparatus obviate this drawback and difficulties by keeping the diluted acid and hydrocarbon liquid separated and in di'erent vessels or reservoirs, but at the same time permitting and forcing the hydrogen to pass through the hydrocarbon liquid as it rises in a warm sta-te from the contact of the metal scraps,'and effecting a chemical and permanent combination, by which the hydrogen only carries over its combining proportions ofthe vapors of the hydrocarbon liquid. This is done in my apparatus in a manner automatically with the genthe cover ofthe saine, for holding the gas and regulating its manufacture. G is a tank or reservoir, lled with water, surrounding the tank A, into which Athe bottom of the cover B is inserted, forming a seal around the lower edges of the cylinder-cover or gas-holder B. To the top of this cover B afunnel-shaped cylinder, D, is securely fastened, the lower part of which is perforated with small holes u, and contains the iron borings or other suitable metal. In the upper part of this cylinder D a perfectly tight compartment, E, is made, provided with pipes F, through which the generated hydrogen-gas is conveyed from the cylinder D, under the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid contained in the chamber or compartment E. This annular chamber E, formed in the upper part of the cylinder D, which contains the hydrocarbon liquid, is filled from the pipe or opening G, closed' by a suitable stopper or cock, and is provided with several holes, m, through its external walls, for allowing the gases to escape into the top cylinder or cover B after they have passed through the hydrocarbon liquid and thereby have become carbureted and ready for use; J is an opening, secured by a screw-cover or its equivalent, through which the iron turnings, borings, or other suitable metal are introduced-into the cylinder D. H is a pipe passing through the top of the cover B, and extending a little distance below the lower end of the cylinder D. This pipe is closed by a suitable stopper or cock, and is for the purpose of supplying acid to the tank A. This pipe is made alittle longer than the cylinder D for the purpose of having its end always under water, being thereby sealed to prevent the escape of gas while filling the tank A. K is a pipe, provided with a faucet, and arranged a little distance above the bottom of the tank A for drawing off the contents of the tank, and isarranged above and clear from the bottom to prevent it from being choked up by the crystals of the sulp hate of iron or other metals which form 0n the bottom of the tanksthe result of the reaction of the acid and the metal scraps; L isl a pipe `for the exit of the gas from the gasholder or cover B, passing through the lower part of the tank A, and extending upward .within the reservoir or tank to about the level of the top thereof. To the end of this pipe, on the outside of the tank, the service-pipe, for

the supply of the gas to the burners, is con-V nected.

Thegreen color in the drawing shows the heightof the diluted acid in the tank A, and

ythe brown color the height of the hydrocarbon liquid in the compartment E, when the vapparatus is filled for operation.

- into the pipes F, and is conveyed through said pipes under the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid in the reservoir or compartment E, and, forcing its way through the hydrocarbon liquid, combines with vapors of this hydrocarbon liquid in its due proportions, assisted by the heat evolved in the chemical reaction between the acid andthe metal, which heat facilitates the combination ofthe hydrogen with the carbon vapors. The illuminating-gas thus obtained escapes through thev holes m into the gasometer or cover B, from whence it makes its egress through pipe L. When the gas is manufactured faster than it is consumed its accumulation Within the gasometer or cover B causes said cover B to risc, lifting thereby the funnel-shaped cylinder'D containing the metal out of the acid, and the generation of hydro- W gen at once ceases, making thereby the operation of the apparatus self-regulating,according to its consumption, at the vSametime stopping the evapora-tion of the hydrocarbon liquid.

The gas thus made is of an'exceedingly bril-` liant character, giving ya light equal tothe best coal-gas, with only one-third the consumption in volume.

Wha-t I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The manufacture of carbureted hydrogengas by so placing the hydrocarbon liquid and the diluted acid in different vessels or compartments, not in contact with each other, but under the same cover and near each other, as herein described a-nd set forth.

2. The combination and arrangement ofthe cover B,`containing the funneLShaped cylinder D and annular chamber E, with pipes F and outlets m--thevchamber D as a regulator, eonductorfor the hydrogen-gas, and supporter for the hydrocarbonch'amber E-the tank A, water-chamber C, and feed-pipe H, the whole being combined in the manner and for the'pur.

pose substantially as herein set forth and dc- K scribed. v v

CLEAVELAND F. DUNDERDALE.

Witnesses v HENRY RAEDER, Louis SVTUMM. 

